1. Welcome to 7th grade Language Arts
Back to School Night

2. Pacing Guide Fall Units:
How Fiction Works: the Interdependence of Literary Elements
Writing Focus – Narrative, Argumentative
Reading and Writing Argumentative Texts
Word Study - Greek & Latin roots

3. Pacing Guide Winter Units: Tackling Complex Literature
Two Sides to Every Story: Understanding POV in Literature
Writing Focus - Text Dependent Analysis
Word Study - Greek & Latin roots

4. Pacing Guide Spring Units: Researching and Arguing Debatable Issues
Reading, Writing, and Responding to Non-Fiction Texts
Writing Focus - Informational
Word Study - Greek & Latin roots

5. Expectations
Must do: Standard
Should do: Accelerated
Can do: Exemplary

6. Outside Reading PCR=Personal Choice Reading
30 minutes of PCR five times a week or the equivalent of pages per week
Just Right – 18 pages in 30 minutes

7. Department Grading Policy
Summative Assessments 55%
Formative Assessments 40%
Homework %

8. What you can do to help… Use my teacher website
Contact me with concerns – please give me 48 hours to reply
Donate gently used books
Scholastic Book orders, library trips
Model reading
Newspapers, book clubs, novels
Pick up a copy of your child’s PCR book

9. Department Grading Policy
HW = short assignments to be completed outside of class
HW assignments are checked for completion only.        
Complete and on time HW assignment = +2 points              
Partially complete HW assignment on due date = +1 point      
Missing HW assignment on due date = 0 point
Complete HW assignment one day late = +1 point (must be submitted within one week for partial credit) 
                                                                 

10. A successful student…
Makes reading outside of school a regular part of the homework routine.
Reads teacher comments on writing to improve future writing pieces.
Uses 8th period to:
seek additional help and practice before completing homework.
initiate a writing conference.
Uses technology to:
check my webpage AFTER 3:15 for homework when absent.
check my website for a copy of a missing paper prior to asking for another copy from me.
check Skyward regularly for missing assignments as well as grades.
Shares what is being read and learned with others.